• Mr. Baptist (right), cutting the tape to officially open the branch.

HFC Bank Ghana has opened its new branch at Adjiringanor to bring its operations to the doorstep of existing and prospective customers.

The opening of the new branch brings to 42, the total network of branches in eight out of the 10 regions of the country, placing it among the top 10 banks in terms of branch distribution.

Speaking at the official opening on Tuesday, Mr. Robert Le Hunte said the inauguration formed part of the new focus of HFC Bank, “which is to build modern branches at locations which cater for the needs of our customers”.

“We believe banking should be made accessible hence the need to bring banking to the doorstep of our existing and prospective customers,” he said.

He said the bank had also decentralised its mortgage facilities, making it available at all its 42 branches.

“For us, it is not just the physical banking structure that excites us but the prospects of interacting with you while working together in building this community,” Mr. Le Hunte said.

He said this year the branches would be involved in community projects with a high level of staff volunteerism to improve and positively affect the communities in which we operate.

He said the Adjiringanor branch looks forward to working and partnering with schools, hospitals, police stations and all stakeholders in this community in making this possible.

Mr. Le Hunte said these initiatives were signposts on the bank’s strategic roadmap of turning HFC Bank into one of the top banks in the Ghanaian banking industry.

“We will, therefore, continue integrating the systems that have worked for us in other regions with the proven local strategies to provide unique banking solutions that will actually meet the needs of the Ghanaian consumer,” he said.

An assistant director at the bank of Ghana, Mr Nesbit Barnor, said the opening of the bank was a demonstration of HFC Bank’s commitment to long-term business and investment plans in the country.

He urged management of the bank to keep up the standards that have made it one of the leaders in the industry, and to adapt to newer trends in order to keep at par with global standards.

He called on the HFC Bank and other players in the sector to pay a bit more attention to the millions of Ghanaians at the countryside, who have no access to financial services.

Mr. Nigel Baptiste, President of the Republic Financial Holdings Limited, Trinidad and Tobago, who was the guest of honour, said Republic Bank’s ultimate goal was to keep HFC Bank at the forefront of the financial sector in Ghana, and on the continent.

“We endeavour to continue setting the standard of excellence in customer satisfaction, employee engagement, social responsibility and shareholder value while contributing to the building of successful societies,” he said.